Spin riveting machine



May 29, 1962 R. H. ZANKL SPIN RIVETING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 50, 1961 ROBERT H. ZANKL ATTORNEY May 29, 1962 Filed Jan. 50, 1961 R. H. ZANKL SPINRIVETING MACHINE ROBERT H. ZANKL 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IG.2

INV EN TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,036,727 Patented May 29, 1962 3,036,727 SPIN RIVETHNG MACHINE Robert H. Zankl, Miami, Fla, assignor to US. Rivet Machine Corp, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 89,892 14 Claims. (til. 218-1) This invention relates to machines for applying rivets and more particularly rivets having recessed ends which, after being inserted through an article or work-piece, are spun or upset by the application of axial and rotative pressure applied by an anvil member.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this character in which a rivet will be forced through an opening in a work-piece and into contact with a positioning stem; in which the stem will be withdrawn from the work-piece, leaving the rivet in position in the workpiece; in which an anvil member will be moved to posi tion it under the rivet and caused to assume the position formerly occupied by the positioning stem; and the anvil will thereupon be moved both axially and rotatively against the recessed end of the rivet to cause the same to be spun over or upset into the required clenching position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this character which will be automatic in operation; in which the series of operations just described will be sequentially performed when initiated by the depression of a foot lever, and by which the rivets will be accurately, positively and speedily inserted.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to b described and more particularly defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, of a riveting apparatus constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, taken from the left of FIG. 1, of a portion of the apparatus, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, 1 indicates generally, the frame of the apparatus, the same including a base portion 2 from which a hollow vertical standard extends, the same being provided at the top with a forwardly-directed arm extension indicated at 4.

Located slightly above the base 2 is a foot-operated pedal 5, fixedly attached at 6 to an arm 7, secured on a rock shaft 8, rotative in the frame 1 to which one end of an arm 9 is attached. The opposite end of the arm 9 is pivotally attached at 11 to the lower end of a vertically-extending push-rod 12 having its upper end pivotally attached at 13 to the lower end of a rod 14 slidably movable through a guide lug 15 projecting from a plate 16 fixedly mounted on a face of the upright or standard portion 3 of the machine frame. Adjustable collars 17 and 18, constituting stops, are secured on the rod 14 to thereby limit the vertical sliding movements of it. The rod 14 is provided with an upward extension 19 carrying a cross piece 20 clamped on it and to which the lower end of a finger 21 is pivoted at 22.

The finger 21 is provided with a notch 23 normally engaged by a pin 24 provided on a lever 25 pivoted at 25' to plate 16 and receiving the lower end of a stem 26 which is mounted for slidable movement through a guide lug or ear 27 projecting from the plate 16. A coil spring 28, extending between the arm 20 and the finger 21, is effective to normally maintain the finger 21 in such a position that its notch 23 engages the pin 24. A coil spring 29 surrounds the stem 26, said spring being maintained between the top face of the guide lug 27 and the bottom or" a dog 31 slidably guided through bracket 30 secured to the face of the plate 16. The dog 31 is provided at the top end of the stem 26, said dog being arranged for engagement with a projecting spur 32 formed on a clutch member mounted on a driven shaft 34.

The shaft 34 is rotated by suitable drive means and it is provided with an eccentric 35 which connects, through a connecting rod 36, with one end of a rocking arm 37 pivoted at 38 in suitable bearings in the arm portion 4 of the frame. The opposite end of the pivoted arm 37 is attached to the upper end of a plunger member 39 movable through a guide 41 at the end of the frame arm 4 and terminating below the guide 41 in a spindle in the form of a punch and rivet-delivery member.

A spring-pressed pawl 42, mounted on the bracket 30, is arranged to maintain the clutch member 33 with its spur 32 in engagement with the dog 31 until the dog is moved downwardly or retracted by lifting movement of the finger 21. Such downward or retractive movement of the dog 31 will take place when the finger 21 is raised upwardly, to thereby cause the finger to lift the pin 24. When the clutch spur 32 is thus freed, the shaft 34 will be rotated one-half a revolution, or for 180 degrees, to thereby bring its spur 32 against an upper dog 43 to be presently described. The finger 21 is freed from its engagement with the pin 24 when the parts 14 and 19 are moved upwardly by depression of the foot pedal and when the finger 21 engages against a cam head 44 having a threaded stem 45 adjustable in the guide lug 27. Thus, as the finger 21 is carried upwardly, it will contact with the cam head 44 and will be pivotally swung to the left, in opposition to the pull of the spring 28, away from the pin 24, thus allowing the stem 26 and its attached dog 31 to be lowered by the spring 29 and the clutch 33 freed for one half a revolution or for a degree movement.

Secured at the top of the extension 19, at its junction with the finger '21, is a lug 45 in which the lower end of a lift rod 46 is secured. The upper end of the lift rod 46 is provided with an extension 47 carrying a clamped-on cross piece 48 to which one end of a coil spring 49 is attached, the opposite end of the spring 49 being attached to a finger 50, pivoted at 51 to the upper end of the extension 47. The coil spring 49 normally holds the finger 50 in engagement with a pin 51 provided adjacent to one end of a lever 52, pivoted at 53 in the frame of the machine. The opposite end of the lever 52 is pivotally connected at 54 to a plunger rod 55 having the dog 43 secured at its lower end, said dog being slidably guided through a guide bracket 56 secured to the upright or standard portion 3 of the frame of the machine. extends from a pneumatic timing device 57 of known construction, and having adjustable regulating control means such as the valve 58.-

When the foot pedal 5 is depressed, lift rod 46 will be elevated and the finger 50 carried thereby will be pivoted toward the left because of its contact with a fixed cam head 59 on the end of a threaded stem adju'stably mounted in a lug 60 on the frame, when the finger 50 is lifted to a predetermined extent. On its upward movement, the finger 50 will cause pivotal movement of the lever 52 in a manner to cause descent of the plunger rod 55 and cause the positioning of the dog 43 in the path of the spur 32 of the clutch, thus causing the clutch to be halted by the dog 43 at the end of the 180 degree rotation. The effect of the timing device 57 is to maintain the dog 43 in its lowered position for a given length of time and then elevate the dog. A pawl 42a similar to that shown at 42 prevents backward rotative movement of the clutch.

Pivotally connected at 62 to the rocker arm 37 is the upper end of a push rod 63, surrounded by a coil spring The plunger rod 55 64 that is confined between a collar 65 on the push rod and the arm 115 of a bell crank lever 65a, and the bell crank lever is pivoted at 66 on a casting 67 secured to the frame. The push rod 63 extends through the arm 115 of the bell crank lever and is slidable therethrough and it bears adjusting nuts 68 on it below the arm 115. The second arm of the bell crank lever, is provided adjacent to its lower end with a switch-operating spring finger 70 adapted at the required times, to contact with and close the mercury switch shown at 71 for setting an electric motor 72 in operation. The switch 71 is mounted on a junction box shown at 116.

The motor 72 is mounted on and is carried by a slidable carriage 75 having a relatively small sliding movement relative to the casting 67 on which it is mounted. Stops 76 and 77 mounted on the carriage and casting respectively, the stop 77 being adjustable, limit the sliding movements of the carriage. The sliding carriage 75 includes an upper portion '78 to which a head 79 is attached by means of the screws 80. The head has inclined surfaces 81 (FIG. 2) guided against co-operating inclined surfaces on the casting 67.

Mounted for rotative as well as axial movement in the head 79 is an anvil stem 82 provided at the top with a removable tip portion 83, shaped at its forward end in the required formation to spin the required flared end on a rivet that has been inserted through a work-piece 84 and is supported on the work-piece holder 85. The anvil stem 82 extends below the head 79 and it carries a pulley 86 protected by a guard plate 120 and engaged by a belt 87 that extends to and passes around a pulley 88 provided on the shaft 89 of the motor 72.

Included as a part of the carriage or slide 75 is an arm 90 provided at its end with a housing or container 91 holding a fluid such as a relatively heavy oil. The lower end of the anvil stem 82 enters into the chamber of the container 91 and it is therein provided with an impeller head 92 having spiral vanes. A relatively light coil spring 93 surrounds the anvil stem 82 within the chamber of the container 91 and the spring is interposed between the spirally-vaned impeller 92 and a washer 94 in the chamber at the top thereof. The spring 93 while relatively light is effective to hold the anvil stem 82 normally in a lowered position as shown in FIG. 3 while the stem is not in rotation. While the anvil stem is being rotated by the belt drive above described, the spirally-vaned impeller 92 will be rotated in the oil in the chamber and by its engagement with the fluid therein it will elevate the anvil stem so that the stem will have an axial movement as well as a rotative movement required to properly spin the desired flare on the rivet.

Mounted for axial raising and lowering movement through the head 79 is a rivet-positioning stem 95 which is normally positioned in an elevated position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this position, the stem 95 has its upper end portion so located and axially aligned with the punch 40 that it will be contacted by the end of a recessed rivet forced through the work-piece 84 by the punch 40. The lower end of the stem 95 is secured in a plate 96 which is normally urged upwardly and into contact with the under part of the head 79 by mean of a spring 97 confined between the plate 96 and a lug portion 98 On the head 79. At 99 is shown a sliding cam member which has a bevelled forward end 100 operative against a complementary inclination on the plate 96, so that when the cam member 99 is urged toward the left as viewed in FIG. 3, it will force the plate 96 and the stem 95 attached thereto in a downward direction.

A rod 101 is attached at one end to the cam member 99 and it has its other end pivotally attached at 103 to a lever 102, pivoted at 104 to the casting 67. A spring 105 extends between the lever 102 and the sliding carriage 75, which spring normally tends to advance the rod 101 and the cam member 99 attached thereto, in a manner to cause the lowering movement of the plate 96 and its attached stem 95.

The part of the sliding carriage 75 on which the motor 72 is carried, is in the form of an extension of the arm and said extension is provided with an upwardlydirected end 107 which engages against the lower end portion of the lever 102 below its pivot 104 and thus normally tends to hold the cam member 99 in its retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in opposition to the pull of the spring 105. A coil spring 108 has one end connected to an ear 109 on the arm 69 of the bell crank lever 65a and its other end attached to a lug 110 on the part 106 of the carriage 75.

From the foregoing, the operation of the improved riveting apparatus will be readily understood. The rivets are successively supplied to the punch 40 by any suitable known rivet-feeding means forming no part of the present invention, and while the work-piece 84, having an opening through it for the reception of the rivet and through which the rivet is to be inserted, is positioned over the supports 85, the punch 40 is lowered and contacts the head of the rivet and it acts to insert the rivet through the work-piece. At this time, the stem is in its elevated position and extends through the work-piece and is positioned directly below the rivet and is axially aligned therewith so that the recessed end of the rivet will contact the upper end of the stem 95 and force the stem down against the bias of the spring 97 and out of the hole through the work-piece as the rivet is forced through said hole.

It will be understood that the lowering of the punch 40 is attained by the depression of the foot pedal 5 and which through the mechanism herein described, causes the rotation of the shaft 34 for 180 degrees, and also the subsequent raising of the punch after it has forced the rivet through the Work-piece and has backed up the rivet during the spinning operation. As the lift rod 63 is raised under the elevating movement imparted to it by the rocking movement of the rocker arm 37, the nuts 68, engaging against the arm 115 of the bell crank lever 65a, will rock the bell crank lever on its pivot 66 in a counterclockwise direction, thus moving the downwardly-extending arm of the bell crank lever toward the right and causing the part 107 to follow such movement under the pull of the spring 108. This allows the spring to become effective to cause the cam member 99 to enter above the plate 96 and hold it and its attached stem 95 downwardly to an extent to retain the upper end of the stem 95 out of the work-piece, the rivet then remaining inserted through the work-piece and the rivet remains backed up by the punch 40 and disposed in a position to have its lower end spun over by the rotative and axially moved anvil head 83.

As the lifter rod 63 continues its upward movement and the arm 69 of the bell crank lever 65a continues its swing to the right, the switch-operating finger 70 will contact the button of the mercury switch 71 and set the motor 72 in operation. As the motor is rotated, the belt 87 will cause rotation of the anvil stem 82 and as the stem is thus rotated its vaned impeller 92 will rise upwardly in the oil in the container 91 and the upper end of the anvil head will be resultant-1y urged against the rivet while being rotated causing the end of the rivet to be spun over and upset to proper clenching condition.

It will be understood that the various steps in the operation of the machine are so timed that the proper sequence of the same always takes place. That is to say, by a single depression of the foot lever or pedal 5, the punch 40 will be caused to descend and force a rivet through the work-piece; the rivet at that time forcing stem 95 to be retracted from within the hole in the work-piece, leaving the rivet extending through the work-piece and backed up by the punch 40; the carriage will then be moved to an extent to bring the anvil head 83 to a position directly below the rivet; the anvil stem 82 will then be rotated and its head 83 raised against the lower end of the rivet to thereby spin the same over with the required upsetting operation. When this operation is thus completed, the parts are restored to their initial positions preparatory to a repetition of the sequence of events as above described and initiated by another depression of the foot pedal.

Having thus described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a riveting apparatus, a punch for inserting a rivet ..through a work-piece, a stem against whichthe rivet contacts when so inserted, the rivet contacting the stem to remove it from inside of the work-piece, means for shifting the stem to axially disalign it from the rivet, an anvil, means for moving the anvil to bring it into alignment with the rivet, and means for rotating and elevating the anvil to bring it against the rivet.

2. In a, riveting apparatus, a Work-piece support, means for forcing a rivet through a work-piece while on the support, a stem forced down by the rivet when the rivet is forced through the work-piece, means for holding the stem in a lowered position below the work-piece, leaving the rivet remaining in the work-piece, an upwardly movable anvil located to one side of the stern, a carrier in which both the anvil and the stem are mounted, means for moving the carrier to thereby shift the stem from below the rivet and to bring the anvil to the location forerly occupied by the stem, and means for rotating the anvil and causing its axial movement to thereby cause the anvil to spin over the end of the rivet;

3. In a riveting apparatus, means for forcing a rivet through a work-piece, a stem extending through the workpiece and forced out of the same by a rivet reachingand contacting said stem, an anvil located adjacent to the stem, means for holding the stem in a lowered position out of the work-piece, means for moving the stem in a manner to disalign it with the rivet and to align the anvil with the rivet, and means for applying both axial and rotative movement to the anvil to bring it upwardly against the end of the rivet to spin over the same.

4. In a riveting machine, a support, a carriage slidably mounted thereon, a rivet-positioning stem axially movable through the carriage, an anvil positioned alongside of the stem and axially and rotatively movable in the carriage, a work-piece support mounted on the carriage, a punch for forcing a rivet through the work-piece resting on the support and causing the rivet to be positioned through the work-piece, means for causing a lowering movement of the stem to thereby remove it from the rivet, means for causing movement of the carriage in a manner to disalign the stem from the rivet and to align the anvil with the rivet, and means for rotating the anvil and exerting axial pressure against the same to thereby cause the anvil to spin over the end of the rivet.

5. In a riveting machine as provided for in claim 4, wherein the means for exerting axial pressure on the anvil comprises a spirally-vaned impeller mounted on the anvil, and a chamber containing a body of fluid in which the spirally-vaned impeller is rotated to thereby axially move the anvil.

6. In a riveting apparatus, means for forcing a rivet through a work-piece, a guide stem for receiving the contact of the rivet so forced, an anvil located to one side of the guide stern, means for maintaining the guide stem out of the work-piece after it has been forced out of the work-piece by the rivet and bringing the guide stem to one side of the rivet and for aligning the anvil with the rivet, means for axially moving the anvil upwardly and means for rotating it to cause it to spin over the end or the rivet.

7. In a riveting apparatus, a work-piece support, a rocker arm actuated by a foot pedal, a punch connected means for moving the carriage to disalign the stem from the rivet and to align the anvil therewith, and means for rotating the anvil and for axially moving it upwardly against the end of the rivet.

8. In a riveting apparatus, a workpiece support, punch means for forcing a rivet through a workpiece while the work-piece is on the support, a stem positioned below the punch means and against which the rivet contacts when forced thorugh the workpiece to thereby force the stem out of the workpiece, cam means for holding the stem in a lowered position below the work-piece, leaving the rivet remaining in the work-piece and backed by the punch means, an anvil located to one side of the stem and parallel thereto, a carrier in which both the stem and the anvil are mounted for axial movement, means for slidably moving the carrier to thereby shift the stem from a position below the rivet, means for rotating the anvil, and means for causing its axial and upward movement during its rotation to thereby cause the anvil tospin over the end of the rivet.

9. In a riveting apparatus, a punch for forcing a rivet through a work-piece, a stem against which the rivet contacts when forced through the work-piece, an anvil located adjacent to and parallel with the stern, cam means operative for holding the stem away from the work-piece after having been depressed by the rivet, means for moving the stern in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis in a manner to vertically disalign it with the rivet, said means being also eifective to align the anvil with the rivet, and means for applying axial movement to the anvil to bring it against the end of the rivet and means for rotating the anvil to spin over the rivet.

10. In a riveting apparatus, a support, a carriage slidably mounted thereon and capable of restricted movement relatively thereto, a rivet-positioning stem axially and vertically movable through the carriage, an anvil positioned alongside of the stern in the carriage and extending parallel to the stem and axially and rotatively movable in the carriage, a work-piece support mounted on the carriage above the stem and anvil, a punch for forcing :a rivet through a work-piece resting on the workpiece support and causing the rivet to be positioned above the stem and the stem positioned below the work-piece, cam means for causing the stem to be held down and out of the work-piece to thereby hold it below the workpiece, means for causing sliding movement of the carriage in a manner to disalign the stem from the rivet after the stem has been removed from the rivet to align the anvil with the rivet, means .for rotating the anvil and means for forcing it upwardly while it is axially aligned with the rivet to thereby cause the anvil to spin over the end of the rivet.

11. In a riveting apparatus, a frame, a casting mounted thereon, a canriage mounted on and having a limited sliding movement on the casting, said carriage having a head through which -a rivet-positioning stem and an anvil are slidably and axially movable, the carriage carrying a fluid chamber containing a fluid, the anvil having a vaned impeller located in the fluid chamber and aifected by the fluid therein in a manner to axially and upwardly move the anvil when the same is rotated, cam means carried by the carriage and effective to hold the stem in a lowered position, a punch operative above the slide for forcing a rivet through a workpiece and forcing the stem out of the work-piece, a motor carried by the carriage, a driving connection between the motor and the anvil for rotating the anvil, switch means for controlling the operation of the motor, and means for causing operation of the switch means.

12. In a riveting apparatus, a driven shaft, a clutch for limiting rotative movements of the shaft, a movable stop member for limiting the rot-ative movement of the clutch, pedal-operated means for causing retraction of said stop member, a second stop member for limiting the rotative movement of the clutch, a timing device for maintaining the second stop member in clutch-restraining position for a given period of time, and pedal-operated means for rendering the timing device effective.

13. In a riveting apparatus, a punch, an anvil for spinning over the end of a rivet backed by the punch, means 8 determined length of time and then release the clutch for movement.

14. In a riveting apparatus, punch means and anvil means co-operating therewith, means for raising and lowering the punch means including a rocker arm, means for raising and lowering the anvil means, a foot pedal, a rotated shaft coupled to the rocker arm, a clutch for establishing a drive for the shaft, means operative to rotate the clutch for a part of a revolution, stop means for limiting rotative movements of the clutch, a timing device operative to maintain the stop means in position to prevent rotative movement of the clutch for a predetermined period of time, and means coupled to the pedal for controlling the positioning of the stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,846,116 Kerns Feb. 23, 1932 

